Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Potentials of 22 Wild Mushrooms from the Western Highlands of Cameroon

Some fungi species thanks to their antioxidant activities have been found able to protect the liver against toxic substances. There is a lack of data on the antioxidant and the hepatoprotective potential of tropical Africa mushrooms. This study was to assess the antioxidant and protective effects of 22 wild mushrooms from the Noun Division in Cameroon against the hepatotoxicity induced by cisplatin in rat liver slices. Mushroom extracts were used for polyphenols, flavonoids, thiols and total amino acids content determinations and in vitro antioxidant properties assessment in comparison to that of vitamin C using 2,2-diphenyl1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, ferric reducing power (FRAP) and the superoxide dismutase-like (SOD-like) activity assays. The hepatoprotective capacity of the mushrooms extracts was evaluated by measuring their ability to inhibit the enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) leakage from rat liver slices and formation of malondialdehyde (MDA). As results, the species Afroboletus luteolus, Amanita rubescens, Ganoderma applanatum, Neonothopothanus hygrophanus, Termitomyces schimperi and Tylopilus sp. demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity. In addition to this activity, A. luteolus, A. rubescens, T. schimperi and Tylopilus sp. exhibited the greatest protection effect against cisplatine toxicity. This study shows that the studied wild mushroom species possess prominent antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities and, consumption could provide both nutritional and health benefits to the population promoting contribution of fungi in food security